Iodine

by Life Enthusiast Staff

Iodine is essential for humans. Soil and diets are seriously deficient. Supplementation
is essential to assure a calm disposition, proper thyroid function, energy production,
burning of fat, normal mental functions and healthy skin, hair and nails. People
wisely avoiding table salt in their diets are particularly vulnerable to iodine
deficiency.

Airborne radioactive iodine is a deadly toxin produced by nuclear power plants
and was the primary toxin released at Chernobyl. Generous food sources of non-radioactive
iodine such as Seafoods, Kelp and Special Nutritional Yeast help prevent uptake
of radioactive iodine. (Iridesca provides 130% of the RDA.)

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid gland, is a common problem associated
with weight gain, bad complexion, fatigue, forgetfulness, loss of sex drive,
impotence, irritability, unhealthy hair, nails and teeth. Fortunately, you can
help normalize an underactive thyroid gland by increasing your intake of iodine.

"The healthy functioning of the thyroid is essential to maintaining metabolism
and preventing the accumulation of body fat," writes Burton Goldberg in
Alternative Medicine. An underactive thyroid gland slows your metabolism; you
thus burn dramatically fewer calories and feel sluggish. In addition, in Asian
Health Secrets, Letha Hadady explains that an underactive thyroid gland promotes
excess weight and cellulite by causing water retention.

Insufficient intake of organic iodine in modern diet has led to a serious and
chronic form of low-grade hypothyroidism. Increasing your iodine level will
allow your thyroid function and metabolic rate to return to normal.

Kelp and other sea weed naturally contain iodine. "Kelp has a normalizing
effect on the thyroid gland. In other words, thin people with thyroid trouble
can gain weight by using kelp, and obese people can lose weight with it,"
Earl Mindell writes in his Vitamin Bible for the Twenty-First Century.

Iodine was first discovered in 1812 in kelp. Elemental iodine was extracted
from the seaweed and was named iodine because of its color, which means violet
in Greek. Iodine occurs naturally as iodide or iodate salts. It is a crucial
part of the thyroid hormones, which, in turn, play a vital role in the production
of energy. Iodine deficiency is still the major cause of hypothyroidism in the
world. Deficiency of thyroid hormones really slows you down. Symptoms include
chronic fatigue, apathy, dry skin, intolerance to cold, weight gain and enlargement
of the thyroid (goiter).
Vitamin And Mineral Encyclopedia by Sheldon Saul Hendler MD PhD

Insufficient intake of organic iodine in today's modern diet has led to
a serious and chronic form of low-grade hypothyroidism, a major contributing
factor to prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. Even a mild low thyroid function
can cause an imbalance of other hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and
androgen, hormones that play a pivotal role in reproductive health as well as
in the prevention of cancerous and noncancerous tumors, such as fibroids and
fibrocystic breast disease. Low thyroid function frequently coincides with low
adrenal function, fatigue, low energy during the day, insomnia, low body temperature,
very low blood pressure, low-grade depression, dry skin, dry hair, pear-shaped
figure, weight gain, infertility, PMS, sensitivity to cold (particularly the
extremities), calcification buildup, hardening of the arteries, cystic breasts
and/or ovaries, and cancers of the breast and ovaries.

An underactive thyroid can encourage water retention, leading to excess weight
and cellulite. Low thyroid function has recently been linked with lethargy and
depression. If you tend to have slow digestion and elimination, excess catarrh,
or sinus trouble, and generally feel down in the dumps during humid weather,
seaweeds high in potassium, calcium, and iodine are for you.

Iodine is a trace mineral. Trace minerals are minerals that occur in tiny amounts
or traces. They play a major role in health, since even minute portions of them
can powerfully affect health. Iodine is measured in micrograms (mcg). The RDA
for iodine is 150 mcg daily for adults. During pregnancy the RDA is increased
to 175 mcg and 200 mcg during breastfeeding.

Major Functions of Iodine

Aids in the development and functioning of the thyroid gland

Needed for normal growth and development regulates the body's production
of energy